Introduction. Urban Deltas: An international issue

The position of the Netherlands as a highly urbanized delta region is by no means unique in the world. Far from it. In fact, all around the world, deltas are sites of strong urban and economic growth. What is unique about the Netherlands, however, is the high level of flood protection, which has ensured that no serious flooding disaster has...

Introduction. The Southwest Delta: Space for 'controlled dynamics'

The Southwest Delta is perhaps the most dynamic region in the low-lying Dutch Delta, both in terms of the dynamics of the relationship between water and land, and in terms of the dynamics of urban and economic growth and their consequences for land-use.

Reflection. The open delta city: Designing with different dynamics

In his lecture ‘The Open City’, Richard Sennett (2006) pleads for an approach in urban design and planning which creates conditions for an evolutionary city. In his view, the current generation of designers and planners is still too focused on the city as a closed system. As a result, many cities become frozen entities, unable to cope with...